We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Canden Byrd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Canden, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I knew at an early age I wanted to lead and design something of my own. Entrepreneurship ran in my family, and I always looked up to my dad, who owned his own business and made his own rules. However, I had no idea what entrepreneurship would look like for me. When I was 23, anxiety and depression hit me for the first time. At that time, mental health still had a negative stigma, and those around me never talked openly about this topic, so I felt truly alone. Up until that point, life had been pretty effortless. I had no idea how to cope with what I thought at the time would be the most debilitating obstacle in my life. It wasn’t until I opened up completely about my struggles, anxiety, and depression in a video on Facebook that I truly started the conversation and knew how I was meant to help others. I knew I didn’t have it all figured out, but I also knew that wasn’t the point.

My dad always told me I had the voice and the personality for radio. Knowing radio wasn’t an option, I started a podcast called Panicked Millennial with the slogan, “I hope to help you while I help myself.” I started with solo episodes, opening up about my own vulnerabilities, how I’ve dealt with them, and the challenges still to overcome. Did I think it would go viral? Absolutely not. And did it? Absolutely not. However, I learned that talking openly to “strangers” I couldn’t see was my way of attacking anxiety and depression head on and removing its power. I interviewed guests right next door and across the world. I still remember every person that has reached out to me to this day about their own anxiety and how my podcast helped them feel “normal.” The podcast was born in 2019, and I focused heavily on those episodes for several years. I’m still astonished how far I (and society) have come since then, and how openly we now talk about our mental health struggles.

My creative endeavors have definitely shifted over the years, and I was grateful to be trusted with photography and videography projects for a country musician from my hometown to kickstart the side hustle I’ve come to love deeply. As I grew my name in the creative field, I knew I had to tie it back to the roots of where I started, still reminding others that they’re not alone in their mental health journeys. In February 2023, Panicked Millennial, LLC was born.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some context on how your business has evolved over the years?

I’m Coats, North Carolina born and bred. Two stoplights in the middle of the Piedmont of North Carolina, so to say I’m a southern girl is an understatement (you’re allowed to make fun of my accent; it’s actually endearing). My dog, Beau, and I are now new residents of Wilmington, North Carolina. I’m an East Carolina University alumni, and I’ve been in federal government consulting full time ever since. I am now an account manager for two federal agency campaigns raising awareness of anti-human trafficking and terrorism prevention (yes, I love my job). Reading in my hammock is my favorite relaxing activity, and reality TV is my weakness.

Panicked Millennial has evolved over the years. Following the development of my podcast, I transitioned to photography and random photoshoots because people knew I had a camera and Adobe Photoshop. However, I truly found my calling when I transitioned to video. I made my first video for a local country artist, and it was NOT good. But it was SO much fun to make. I then filmed my friend’s wedding as a wedding gift for her, and I knew this was where I was meant to grow. I now specialize in concert and wedding videography that tell the story of the event from start to finish, capturing the candid moments that you wish you could live over again. I also still release podcast episodes talking about anxiety and other challenges the millennial generation faces daily.

When clients decide to hire me to capture their most special moments and events, they know they’ll stay entertained as I bring their visions to life. I’m a big jokester, and I’m unique in that I’m not the most polished businesswoman. However, I put my whole heart into everything I do, and as a perfectionist, my work isn’t over until I’m excited and/or happy crying. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, not only with my own growth but with the client relationships I’ve made over the years. It’s amazing the experiences that turned into core memories and stories I’ll tell my grandchildren about one day. I’ve met the most wonderful people in this line of business, and their trust in me has truly made all the difference, not only for my business but for my character.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

First, I was always genuinely me. I’m always professional, but I’m also charismatic, funny, comforting, and first to speak my mind. I’ve always thought that my personality and character made others feel comfortable around me, which makes capturing great footage easier to do.

Second, I knew exactly what I wanted to offer my clients. Having a full-time job outside of my business, I had to keep offerings manageable so I wouldn’t burn out between the two. I did a lot of research on what others offered and their videography/editing style and made sure I stood out in a way that was attractive to potential clients while keeping my workload realistic for my lifestyle.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being creative with my videography triggers another part of my brain and allows me to completely get lost in something. When it comes to life the way you envision it and then see the joy it brings another person, the feeling is indescribable. I often deliver videos to my clients and have them film their reaction (if they feel comfortable). Seeing another person or couple feel the same emotions watching a video that I did making the video is the best accomplishment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thepanickedmillennial.com/
• Instagram: @candenbyrd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candenbyrd10/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/canden-byrd-cgmp-b11072b0/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0oSU232M-HK8xfiqCpd6Ag

Image Credits
Professional headshots: Brandie Baird Photography